Read, discuss, and pair with lessons to address important topics about digital life.
We often think about books as a way to unplug from our digital lives, and that's a great reason to read. But the lines between online and "irl" are increasingly blurred, so it only makes sense that some books wrap their stories around devices and digital media. And what better way to get some perspective and reflect on digital citizenship topics than to approach them in the steadily-paced pages of a great book?
This collection does just that: It features books for each grade level, both fiction and nonfiction, that feature digital dilemmas, citizenship, and well-being. Remember: It's never too early to start these conversations, since even little kids are often online! So whether you have these selections in your classroom library, use them for read-alouds, or offer them for assignments, they're an excellent in-road to meaningful discussions.
Blackout
Kindergarten and up
Description: On a hot, noisy night in the city, a kid wants to play a board game with his family, but they're too busy. Then the power goes out, and the neighborhood comes alive with fun, communal activities. When the power is restored, everyone goes back to their business, so the kid turns the lights off and the family comes together to play the board game.
Discussion Questions:
- Why does the neighborhood go outside and play together when the power goes out?
- When the power comes back on, why does the kid turn off the lights again?
- Do devices ever get in the way of playing together? If so, what can we do about it?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Pause for People
The Couch Potato: The Food Group, Book 4
Kindergarten and up
Description: The Couch Potato loves sitting around, playing video games, doing livestreams, and watching his favorite TV shows. But then the power goes out! He decides to go outside for a walk, and he realizes all he's been missing in the outside world.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of the things Couch Potato noticed and enjoyed when he went outside?
- Watching videos and playing video games can be fun. But why is it important to do off-screen activities, too?
- Does the power need to go out for us to stop using screens? How can we make the decision for ourselves?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Media Balance Is Important
Dot.
Kindergarten and up
Description: Dot is great at using technology and loves it! But when she's feeling burned out by too much screen time, her mom encourages her to go outside. Getting away from devices reminds her of all of the off-screen fun she also enjoys.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the signs that Dot is ready to stop using technology? Can you feel when you need to do something else? What are your signs?
- Dot remembers that she loves playing outside, painting, and being with friends. What off-screen activities do you love?
- How can we make sure to balance tech time with other activities?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: How Technology Makes You Feel
Nerdy Birdy Tweets
Kindergarten and up
Description: Nerdy Birdy loves Tweetster, a new video game, but his friend Vulture doesn't want to play it. They both try to compromise a bit to maintain their friendship, but then Nerdy Birdy makes a big mistake: He posts an embarrassing picture of Vulture with a mean caption! Vulture gets upset, and Nerdy Birdy apologizes and realizes his friends on Tweetster can't compare to his in-person buddy.
Discussion Questions:
- Why does Vulture get frustrated with Nerdy Birdy at the beginning of the book? How does Nerdy Birdy feel? Why?
- Why do you think Nerdy Birdy posts the picture and comment about Vulture?
- How are online friends different from in-person friends?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Pause & Think Online
Bad Kitty Gets a Phone
Third grade and up
Description: Kitty works hard to get a phone and then finds out that using it comes with some not-so-fun surprises—and lots of responsibility. As Kitty runs into challenges, it becomes clear that having good digital well-being habits is important.
Discussion Questions:
- How does Kitty get a device? Why doesn't Kitty's owner just give Kitty a phone?
- What kinds of issues does Kitty discover online? Have you encountered any of these issues? If so, what did you do?
- What kinds of healthy online habits might help so that Kitty's owner doesn't have to set new limits?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Your Rings of Responsibility
Marcus Makes It Big
Third grade and up
Description: Marcus and Sierra post a short film online that gets super popular, very fast! Marcus feels pressure to get even more subscribers and keep the attention that the first video got. But the pressure leads to conflict, and Marcus and Sierra have to figure out what's really important to them.
Discussion Questions:
- Why does Marcus feel so much pressure to get more subscribers and followers? Do you think you would feel that way? Why or why not?
- What are the factors that make things go viral online?
- Do you ever feel pressure or get into conflicts about online life? If so, what about?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: This Is Me
You Go First
Fourth grade and up
Description: Charlotte and Ben are facing some challenges at home and at school. Their family and friendships are going through changes. But through an online word game, they're able to find each other and some connection.
Discussion Questions:
- How does the game help to connect Charlotte and Ben? Have you ever made friends through an online game? How did it happen?
- Not all communication in online games is friendly: How does it sometimes look and feel different than the experience in the book?
- What are some ways we can use digital media to find connection with others in a safe, fun way?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Keeping Games Fun and Friendly
Posted
Fifth grade and up
Description: Frost is in middle school and has a close group of friends who are sometimes picked on by other kids. A new girl, Rose, starts to change things. Meanwhile, their school bans cellphones, so Frost's friend, Deedee, starts using sticky notes instead of text messages. A cruel sticky note war begins, and the friends have to decide how to handle it.
Discussion Questions:
- Why does the school decide to ban cellphones? What do you think about this approach?
- People can be mean—and kind—to each other in lots of ways. But how are mean sticky notes different from mean text messages or social media posts?
- What do you think about Rose's approach to the school conflict? What would you have done?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Is It Cyberbullying?
Semi-Famous: A True Story of Near Celebrity
Eighth grade and up
Description: Josh Sundquist is an internet comedian who's always wanted to be famous. But as he builds a social media following and gets some tastes of fame, he wonders if it will really make him happy.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the pros and cons of internet fame? How does the author feel about it?
- Can you think of any examples of how social media impacts celebrities? Do you know of anyone who has taken a break from social media? Why did they?
- What are some reasons that people go viral online? Since those reasons don't always reflect talent or effort, how does it happen? Would you ever want to be famous online? Why or why not? Would it matter how you achieve it?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Who Are You Online?
Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed
Ninth grade and up
Description: A high school student starts an Instagram account that targets fellow students with racist language and memes. The community is in turmoil, with people conflicted about the punishment for the account's creator and followers. Meanwhile the students who were targeted deal with nightmares and just try to get through each school day. Though the incident was in 2017, readers also get a window into continued consequences in 2020.
Discussion Questions:
- The account's creator used a social media account to express racist views. What are some differences between sharing these views in person versus online?
- What are the specific rules of First Amendment rights? What do you think the consequences should have been for the account's followers?
- Research shows that people of color and those in LGBTQ+ communities experience more online hate, whether directed at them personally or at their community as a whole. What are some steps we can take to deal with this problem?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Responding to Online Hate Speech
Never Coming Home
Ninth grade and up
Description: An Agatha Christie-style mystery for the modern age, this murder-driven story centers around a group of social media influencers, the effects of their online identities, and the secrets they keep.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of the differences between the characters' online identities and their real lives and personalities? Do you think it's common for people's online personas to be different from their authentic selves? Why or why not?
- Are there any influencers you like and follow? What is it about them that appeals to you? How authentic do you think they are?
- If someone described your online identity, what do you think they would say? Does your online identity match your real one? Why or why not?
Digital Citizenship Lesson: Curated Lives
You can check out the full list of books on Common Sense Media!
